Two charged with sexually assaulting teens in separate attacks in Westchester County

WHITE PLAINS − Two men are charged with sexually assaulting teens in separate attacks in Westchester County.

Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah announced the indictments and arraignments of the defendants Monday. The attacks happened during June in Rye and North White Plains, she said.

Richard Olmino, 21, of Port Chester, was named by a Westchester County grand jury in an 18-count indictment for allegedly sexually assaulting two teenagers in separate attacks in Rye.

Olmino is charged with one count each of attempted rape and attempted first-degree criminal sexual act; two counts of first-degree criminal sexual act; four counts of first-degree sexual abuse; four counts of third-degree robbery; and two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, all felonies; and one count of endangering the welfare of a child and three counts of second-degree unlawful imprisonment, both misdemeanors.

The robbery charge was a sexually motivated felony, Rocah said.

Olmino allegedly threatened a 16-year-old female jogger in Rye Town Park around midnight on June 23. He allegedly said he had a knife before tackling her to the ground, exposing himself and sexually assaulting her. A security guard interrupted the attack and the defendant fled the scene, leaving behind his cellphone, Rocah said.

DNA evidence from that incident allegedly tied Olmino to a June 3 incident in which he allegedly sexually assaulted an 18-year-old who was walking home from an after-prom party in the vicinity of Rye High School.

Olmino remains in custody pending an Aug. 22 court appearance. Bail information was not available.

In a separate grand jury indictment, Jose Mejia Lopez, 32, hometown not available, is accused of grabbing an 18-year-old who was walking with two friends to the North White Plains Metro North station around 4 p.m. on June 22. He allegedly forcibly kissed her while pinning her to the wall by her neck and holding a knife to her throat. Rocah said the attack was captured on surveillance video.

Lopez is charged with first-degree sexual abuse, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree assault, all felonies; and second-degree unlawful imprisonment, second-degree menacing, resisting arrest and third-degree escape, all misdemeanors. He briefly escaped from police custody after his initial arrest, according to Rocah's news release.

Lopez is being held at the Westchester County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail, $100,000 bond or $500,000 partially secured bond, pending an Aug. 29 court appearance.

Clare Degnan, Olmino and Lopez's attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Westchester County, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record, Poughkeepsie Journal and The Journal News/lohud. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com or on Twitter @mikerandall845.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Two men face charges in sexual assaults on teens